absolutwillie

Tag: friends

  • loony season

    update:

    • still processing the disappearance of a friend.
    • decided that the snake-dream was about my fear of letting my kids go.
    • doctor decided to change my medication – feeling a bit like a lab-rat for not understanding the reasons.
    • am still sane because I am loved.
    • enjoyed the kindergarten’s graduation ceremony.
    • prepared emotionally for my last day at school on Monday.
    • shocked by the news of one colleague assaulting another.
    what? yes – you heard me:
    the (by now not-so-)new teacher (whom I’ve expressed concern about before) drove to Ben’s house – and assaulted him…
    this is the guy who’s inheriting my class on Monday!
    no wonder I dream of snakes hunting my kids…

  • a knight in shimmering armor

    y’all know this week was not the easiest I’ve had in a bit. but thanks to scheduling requirements for my a/c installation, I got to take a day’s leave from school on Friday :0)

    and Peter did not let the opportunity to sweep me off my feet slip by! Friday afternoon he bundled me into his car and whisked me off past Cishan mountain, to track down the first peaches of the season. (and he says he isn’t romantic!) en route, we checked out a place called ‘Holy Mt Zion’ – this is their gate:

    from the looks of it, Mt Zion is what you’d call a faith based, self reliant, semi-autonomous community. (see how i didn’t say sect? oops…) very impressive and very big – it really takes up a biggish hill. but a bit creepy, so no other photos to share.

    yesterday, the girls from the buxiban came ’round to “warm” our apartment. Peter had made a reservation at our favorite Japanese BBQ for all of us – no dishes for me! *lol* to top it all off, he took me to see ‘the reader’ after everyone went home.

    and today he’s taking me to a mulberry farm to pick the first mulberries of the season!

    every day, I thank God for Peter. is it dificult to see why?


    update: on the drive home, we stopped and got some pineapples next to the road. back in Kaohsiung we stopped at a market for fresh chicken and an (as yet) unidentified vegetable. when we got home, Peter started dinner: Chicken and Pineapple soup!

  • Apartheid in America

    segregation is the name of the game – and no one plays it as well as Californians, by the look of it. apparently the “Prop 8ers” now want to forcibly divorce same sex families.

    http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=63961

    it seems all Americans are created equal, some just more equal than others. (does their constitution end in “sich heil”? especially when read by the Governator…)

  • the blessings keep rolling in!

    hold on to your hats! i’m flyin’ high on some good vibrations today :0)

    first i hear that i’m one of my student’s idol – and then i get a marie antoinette: a real person- a real award!

    thank you so much to Rod (kickin tina) for this surprise :0)
    what do you do when your hero hands you an award like this?

    smile and spread the love, baby.

    here are the rules for the award:

    1. please put the logo on your blog
    2. place a link to the person from whom you received the award (kickin tina)
    3. nominate at least 7 or more blogs
    4. put the links of those blogs on your blog
    5. leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

    i browse, read, enjoy and devour quite a number of blogs on a daily basis. choosing the top 7 isn’t easy and some of my choices are 100% biased – but i’d like to tip my hat to the following stars in my blogosphere:

    1) Life and Times of a Gay Man in Idaho
    2) Feisty Female
    3) Bipolar to Bipolar
    4) Jockohomo Datapanik
    5) PinkSheep’s spot
    6) The Mangina Monologues
    7) Defying Despondency

    (also – if you haven’t already – do yourself a favor and check out kickin tina)

  • photoblog: Taiwan Pride Parade 2008

    guess what i did today…























  • blast from the past


    my Mom sent me this photo by e-mail. it’s of me and my childhood friend Corné, with our first catch! we were hoping for loads of calamari rings *lol* who knew you needed more than just that one to feed a family? (or that preparing calamari from scratch was an art and not a mere matter of frying the hell out of it *lol*)

    also in this photo is my aunt Ella – may her soul rest in perfection.

    i should write more – but school’s a callin’

    remember when sun, water and friendship was enough?

  • Bear Square @ Ximen, Taipei


    as close to “safe for work” as we got *lol*

  • TPE this weekend!

    TGIF! Heavens, this Friday came just in time. For a moment there I thought I was losing it.

    Me and Peter are bound for Taipei this weekend. We’ve got tickets to see Wang Li Hong (LeeHom?) in concert! I’m super excited!! Not that I know LeeHom’s music or anything – but a break-away from the South is way over due. That – AND we’re hooking up with Heather, Mathilda and Stacey! I haven’t seen them since our island adventure.

    This is going to be good :0)

    Posted by ShoZu

  • healthy relationships are all the rage

    judging by my blog stats – this post from 4 september 2007 seems to be very popular lately. worth a re-post, methinks ;0)

    • Love should be honest.
    • Avoid that which is bad in favor of that which is good.
    • Let your affections be kind, sincere and honorable.
    • Honor each other.
    • Be the example.
    • Never cool in your commitment.
    • Nurture and develop your enthusiasm!
    • Serve the Lord.
    • Rejoice in hope.
    • Be steadfast in the face of oppression.
    • Pray.
    • Help those around you.
    • Always be courteous.
    • Bless those who persecute – for they are hurt.
    • Never curse another.
    • Share in the joy of those who rejoice.
    • Share in the sadness of those who weep.
    • Always find agreement amongst yourselves. (“find” is a verb.)
    • Never, ever be conceited – in fact, avoid the conceited.
    • Choose in stead those who are humble – and be humble.
    • Be mindful (not proud) of your opinions. Learn more.
    • Forget about getting even – hurting those who hurt you, hurts more.
    • Rather fill your hearts with goodwill towards all mankind. All year long.
    • As far as possible, live in peace with everybody. Make it possible.
    • Revenge is not in your jurisdiction – leave that to God.
    • Rather care and provide nourishment to those you believe to be your enemy.
    • Even more so to those who believe you are their enemy. (The lesson goes both ways.)
    • Do not let evil overcome you.
    • Defeat evil with good.

  • Mr Mister

    The wind blows hard against this mountainside
    Across the sea into my soul
    It reaches into where I cannot hide
    Setting my feet upon the road
    My heart is old it holds my memories
    My baby burns a gemlike flame
    Somewhere between the soul and soft machine
    Is where I find myself again
    Kyrie Eleison
    Down the road that I must travel
    Kyrie Eleison
    Through the darkness of the night
    Kyrie Eleison
    Where I’m going will you follow
    Kyrie Eleison
    On a highway in the light

    When I was young I thought of growing old
    Of what my life would mean to me
    Would I have followed down my chosen road
    Or only wished what I could be

    My friend Duncan Tsai – recently lost his friend and co-worker to a heart-attack.
    She was 27.